Hottest day of the year follows thunderstorms

Sunseekers in Brighton took advantage of the hot weather as they descended on the beach on Friday

Parts of south-east England have recorded the hottest day of the year after dramatic electrical storms.

Temperatures in Gravesend, Kent, nudged above 32C (90F), beating the previous high of 29.5C, recorded on Thursday, as much of the country enjoyed the sun.

The sweltering heat came after lightning struck the UK more than 3,000 times in the early hours of Friday.

But the Met Office is warning of more storms and, in England and east Wales, flash flooding is on the way.

'Very humid'

BBC Weather said storms developing in France on Friday night would move north across the UK but that where exactly would be affected was difficult to predict.

The Met Office has issued a heat health alert for southern England and the Midlands, warning that "heavy thunderstorms in eastern areas on Saturday will lead to slightly lower maximum temperatures, but it will still be very humid".

Public Health England said elderly people and those with long-term illnesses should take particular care.

Dramatic storms hit the UK on Thursday night - this shot was captured in Bristol

Justin Stokes caught the moment lightning flashed over Canary Wharf in London

The Met Police issued photographs of the lightning over the capital on Thursday night

An amber rain warning issued by the Met Office for England and eastern Wales into Saturday means people should be prepared for possible flash floods.

Environment minister Dan Rogerson said the Environment Agency was working with local councils to prepare for any localised flooding.

"Our priority is public safety," he said. "I urge people to be prepared and act on the advice from the Environment Agency and local emergency services."

John Curtin, the agency's director of incident management, added: "Flooding can happen very quickly and the public are urged to keep checking local weather forecasts and the Environment Agency website for information on a regular basis."

The heat was too much for some at Lord's cricket ground in London as England took on India in the second Test

Festival-goers at the Latitude event in Suffolk basked in the sun on Friday

Weather information

Over the weekend, the storms forecast could affect the second Test between England and India at Lord's, with spectators warned to expect interruptions.

Cigarette warning

Public Health England has renewed its advice to people to take care in the heat.

Dr Paul Cosford, director for health protection, said: "While many people enjoy hot weather, high temperatures can be dangerous, especially for people who may be particularly vulnerable, such as older people, young children and those with serious illnesses."

People should stay out of the heat during the hottest time of the day and have plenty of cool drinks, he said.

Meanwhile, London Fire Brigade warned of an increase in grass fires and reminded people not to drop cigarettes in grassland.

The Fire Brigade Union is continuing its strike action across England and Wales, with a further stoppage scheduled from 23:00 BST on Friday until 01:00.

During this period, crews will not attend grass fires unless they present a risk to life or property.

How are you coping with the recent heatwave and thunderstorms? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Heatwave alert".

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